One of John Fowles’s most famous works, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, is remarkable in many ways. The author combines an intriguing story, narrated in the typical Victorian manner, with a detailed account of Victorian England. Moreover, Fowles also manages to convey to the reader his actual conviction of how a novel should be written from the modern author’s stance, while criticizing both the “form-obsessed noveau roman school” (Huffaker 99) and the shortcomings of Victorian writing-techniques. This research paper will examine some of the book's aspects, mainly the central theme of Darwinism, and the accurate depiction of the Victorian age while maintaining a certain critical distance. Also, the narrative perspective and the alternative endings while be discussed, and finally the development and meaning of the central relationship between the protagonists Sarah Woodruff and Charles Smithson.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Darwinism
- Victorian England in „The French Lieutenant's Woman”
- Narrative Perspective
- The alternative endings
- The characterization of Sarah and Charles
- The development of the relationship between Sarah and Charles
- The relationship considered as a godgame
- Résumé
- Works Cited
Objectives and Key Themes
This research paper aims to examine various aspects of John Fowles's "The French Lieutenant's Woman," including the central theme of Darwinism, the depiction of Victorian England, narrative perspective, and the development of the central relationship between Sarah Woodruff and Charles Smithson.
- The impact of Darwinian principles on Victorian society and the characters' actions.
- The portrayal of Victorian England as a contrasting backdrop to modern perspectives.
- The role of narrative perspective in shaping the reader's understanding of the story and its characters.
- The complexities and ambiguities of the relationship between Sarah and Charles.
- The exploration of class dynamics and societal expectations within Victorian England.
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the central themes of the novel, including Darwinism, Victorian England, narrative perspective, and the relationship between Sarah and Charles. It emphasizes the novel's unique blend of Victorian style and modern authorial commentary.
- Darwinism: This chapter delves into the significance of Darwinian theory in the novel, exploring how it influences the characters, particularly Charles, and shaping his interactions with society. Charles's inability to adapt to societal changes reflects his limited understanding or denial of Darwinian principles.
- Victorian England in „The French Lieutenant's Woman”: This chapter examines the novel's depiction of Victorian England, discussing the question of whether it can be categorized as a historical novel. It explores how Fowles uses Victorian settings and characters to highlight the contrasts between Victorian and modern values.
Keywords
This research paper explores the key themes of Darwinism, Victorian England, narrative perspective, and the complexities of the relationship between Sarah Woodruff and Charles Smithson in John Fowles's "The French Lieutenant's Woman." Key terms include social evolution, class dynamics, gender roles, historical fiction, and the interplay of authorial voice and narrative structure.
- Quote paper
- Nils Schnelle (Author), 2006, "The French Lieutenant’s Woman" - Themes, narrative perspective, and the meaning of the main characters’ relationship , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/68653
